Control for refrigeration mechanism



Dec. 16, 1930. T. J. LITlgi-I, JR 85,699

CONTROL FOR REFRIGERATION MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1925 Invenfar. 75 0/4115 L/TLE we. 25) 7 ,grM/VEY Patented Dec. 16, 1930 D STAT-ES PATENT ormca THOMAS-J. nrrnn, .13.} or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, assrenon '10 COPELAND rnonuc'rs,

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the electric motor of an artificial refrigera tion system whereby the motor is automatically operated when the temperature within the refrigerator rises above a pre-determmed point, and discontinued-when the temperature falls below a pre-determined point.

It is a further object of my, invention to provide such a control byusing the principle control, means for positively maintaining the electric motor in operative condition so as to do away with a switch which is now conven- 'tionally used for this purpose.

,With the above and other objects in view,

my invention consists in the arrangement,

combination and construction of'the various parts of my improved device as described in the specification, claimedin my claims and 1 shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which: A

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a portion of a refrigerator cabinet'and my improved control, the refrigerating mechanism being shown in elevation. 1

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the housing or cover used for my improved control.

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 so of Fig. 1.

. I have shown a which is mounted a refrigerating mechanism comprising a conventional electric motor 6, compressor 7 and'condenser 8. I The compressor 7 is driven by the motor 6, the two being conventionally coupled bya belt 9. The conventional refrigerant intake to the compressor from the expansion chamber is provided as at 10 and a conventional pipe 11 leading from the condenser 8 to the expansion chamber is also provided.

My improved control is adapted to start and stop the electric motor 6 by making and breaking an electrical contact in response to variations of temperaturein the cabinet 5. I have shown-a single piece of tubing which mayoriginally have across-section similar to the container portion. 12. The tube is fiattened at one end as at 13 and sealed to close \the end. It is also flattened beginning at refrigerator cabinet 5 on 1928. Serial No. 115,686.

" and to the cabinet 5 for supporting the con,-

tainer within the'cabinet. 1

A housing 16 for thecoil 14 is provided on the cabinet 5, being secured thereto as at 17.

' A bracket member having a return bent orv of a Bourdon tube and to combine. with such tion 18 engaging'the flattenedportion o the tube, is securedasat 19 to the housing 16.

A tube 20 is secured to the free end of the coil 14. A pair of wires 21 and 22 lead into the tube 20 and have their ends adjacent each other at one end of the tube 20. A-mercury drop 23 is alsoprovided in the tube 20 and is adapted to connect the wires 21 and 22 when the tube 20 is tilted so as to bring the mercury drop to the end of the tube in which the wires are positioned. 1 When the tube is reversely tilted the mercur drop will pass to the other end thereof and t e connection between wires 21 and 22 will be broken. A pair of wires 24 and 25lead from the motor 6, one of them be ing directly connected with a suitable source of electricity whilethe other-is adapted to be connected with such source through the wire 26 and the wires 21 and 22 so thatwhen the contact between the wires 21 and 22 is made, the motor 6 will be operated, and when the contact is brokenfthe motor will be sto ped. The container 12 is provided with a which will gasify in the presence of heat such as methyl chloride, and this gasification will exert pressure on the coil 14 of the flattened portion of the tube to cause it to tend to uncoil,'and thus so tilt the tube 20 as to bring the mercury drop 23 to that end of the tube in which the contacts for the wires 21 and 22 are positioned. When the temperature of the cabinet 5 has been sufliciently reduced by the refrigerating mechanism, the methyl chloride or other similar substance in the container 12 will return to liquid form so as to permit the coil 14 to tend toward recoiling and break the connection between the wires21 and 22. P i

For the purpose of adjusting the coil 14 and more particularly the position of the quid end thereof: on which the tube is placed, I provide an elongated slot 27 in the cover 16 through which a portion 28 of a sliding mem ber 29 extends. The end of the portion 28 is bent to engage one layer of the coil 14 as at 30. When it is desired to adjust the coil 14 so that the mercury drop 23 will more easily find its way to t e end of the tube 20 as shown in Fig. 1, the member 29 may be slid toward the top of the slot 27 by means of the handle 31 with the result that the engagin ortion will likewise be slid to the top o the coil 14 so as to relieve downward pressure on the coil and more easily permit of its uncoiling By reverse movement of the member 29, the engaging portion 30 is slid downward on the coil 14 so as to require a greater pressure to uncoil the same and tend toward tiltin the tube 20 in the opposite direction. In t e event it is desirable to continuousl shut off the motor 6, the member 29 may e slid to its extreme downward position so that complete gasification of the liquid in the container 12 will not exert sufiicient pressure to move the tube 20 in position necessary to connect the wires 21 and 22. Thus the conventional switch for shutting off and turning on the motor 6 may be dispensed with.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement, combinationand construction of the various parts of my improved device without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover b my claims such chan es as may be-reasona scovpeilthereof.

at I claim is:

1. A control means for the refrigerating mechanism of a mechanically refrigerated ly included within t e I cabinet comprising a continuous piece of tubing having one end sealed and adapted to be disposed in said cabinet and the other end flattened and coiled at its extremity, a heat gasifying liquid in said tube tending to coil and uncoil said coiled end in response to temperature variations, adjustable means for regulating said coiling and uncoiling, and a switch mechanismoperated by the movement of the free end of said coil.

2. A control means for the'refrigerating mechanism of-a mechanically refrigerated cabinet comprising, in combination, a continuous piece of tubing having one end sealed and adapted to be disposed in said cabinet and the other end'flattened and coiled and sealed at its extremity, a heat gasifying l quid in said tube tending to coil'and uncoil said coiled end in response to temperature variations, a cover over said coiled end, means carried vby said-cover slidably engaging said coiled end for controlling the coiling and uncoiling movement thereof, and a switch mechanism carried by the free end of said coil and operable thereby upon movement thereof;

3. A starting and stopping means for the refrigerating mechanism of a mechanically refrigerated cabinet comprising, in combination, a container adapted to be disposed within the cabinet, a flattened coil of tubing connected with the container, a heat gasifyin liquid in the container tending to coil and uncoil said tube in response to temperature variations, a switch controlled by the movement of the free end of said coil, and means for ad'usting the coiled or uncoiled position of sai free end comprising a cover for the coil extendin at an angle thereto, a slot in the cover, an a member slidable in said slot slidably engaging said-coil.

4. A starting and stopping means for the refrigerating mechanism of a mechanically refrigerated cabinet comprising, in combination, a container ada ted to be disposed in the cabinet, a flattened coiled tube connected with the container and ada ted to be positioned exteriorly of said cabinet, a heat gasifying liquid in the container "tending to coil and'uncoil said coiled tube in response to temperature variations, a switch mechanism operated by the movement of the free end of said coil and means for adjusting the position at which said coil stands comprising a cover for the coil, a bracket secured to said cover engaging the coil at one point thereon and a guide movable on the cover and engaging the coil at another place thereon.

5. In a device of the type described, a coiled tube adapted to coil and uncoil in response to pressure variations therein, one end of said coil being anchored and the other end of said coil being free, an electric switch operatively connected to said free end for movement therefrom, and an anchor for said tube intermediate said anchored end thereof and said free end, said anchor being shiftable along said tube whereby to vary the extent of movement of said free end in response to the pressures in said tube.

6. In a control for a refrigerating mechanism or the like, in combinatioma continuous piece oftubing one end of which is closed and coiled, a bulb secured to the opposite end of said tube, a heat gasifying liquid in said bulb, an electric switch, an operative connection between the free coiled end of said tube and said switch, an anchor for said tube adjacent the other end of the coiled portion of said tube, and another anchor for said tube engaging the coiled portionthereof intermediate the ends of said coiled portion, the last mentioned anchor being shiftable relative to said tube whereby to control the coiling and uncoiling tendencies of said tube due to the pressure of said gasifying liquid therein thereby to control the action of said switch.

THOMAS J. LITLE, JR.

IOU 

